Physician Assistant salary in Iowa
Physician Assistants in Iowa earn a median of $134,770 a year ($64.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $102,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $182,940 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $135,880. Iowa ranks 23rd of 51 states for physician assistants pay. There are 0.77 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $139,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,330 | $49.20 |
| 25th percentile | $120,060 | $57.72 |
| Median | $134,770 | $64.79 |
| 75th percentile | $159,950 | $76.90 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $182,940 | $87.95 |
| Average (mean) | $139,870 | $67.25 |
Half of physician assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,230.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,615.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,183.46 |
| Weekly | $2,591.73 |
| Hourly | $64.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physician Assistant salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $137,420 | 110 |
| Iowa City, IA | $134,770 | 230 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $134,130 | 720 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $133,830 | 340 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $132,880 | 60 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $130,970 | 70 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $129,680 | 80 |
| Dubuque, IA | $126,050 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 |
| California | $165,650 |
| Washington | $164,360 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 |
| New York | $160,880 |
| Oregon | $155,780 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 |
| Alaska | $150,700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 |
Related jobs in Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $78,630 | $37.80 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,160 | $62.58 |
| Pharmacist | $138,860 | $66.76 |
| Physical Therapist | $97,560 | $46.90 |
| Dental Hygienist | $84,010 | $40.39 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $81,050 | $38.97 |
| Physicians, All Other | $295,190 | $141.92 |
| Occupational Therapist | $89,910 | $43.22 |
| Dentists, General | $181,520 | $87.27 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $265,200 | $127.50 |
| Veterinarian | $124,610 | $59.91 |
| Chiropractor | $75,050 | $36.08 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $74,760 | $35.94 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $72,690 | $34.95 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Iowa?
The median salary for physician assistants in Iowa is $134,770 a year, or $64.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $102,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $182,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Iowa?
The top 10% of physician assistants in Iowa earn at least $182,940 a year. The top 25% earn $159,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $102,330 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $120,060 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Iowa?
About 1,200 physician assistants are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.